The NZ Composer Sessions is a collaboration between the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, RNZ Concert and SOUNZ Centre for New Zealand Music.

SOUNZ Centre for New Zealand Music is proud to announce the selection for the latest NZ Composer Sessions. Eight New Zealand composers’ works will be rehearsed and performed by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and recorded by RNZ Concert in October:

Jack Bewley Crustacean Lobotomy
Chris Gendall Wow Signal
Julian Kirgan-Báez Reflection
Sai Natarajan A Beacon in the Cosmic Blizzard
Maddy Parkins-Craig New Mountain
Briar Prastiti Pegasus
George Smith Conversations with Death
Louise Webster While the Dark Tide Rises

We are excited to announce the selection of another diverse and outstanding lineup of New Zealand Composers and their works for the 2024 New Zealand Composer Sessions. These sessions bring to life orchestral works by New Zealand composers, with the help of NZSO and RNZ Concert. We look forward to another year of working with our partners and supporting these composers throughout the rehearsal and recording process. We hope that the recordings that will result from this project will have far-reaching benefits for our composers and music in Aotearoa New Zealand,” says SOUNZ Interim Chief Executive Claire Szabó.

A panel made up of representatives of the NZSO, RNZ Concert and the Composers Association of New Zealand (CANZ) selected the works to be recorded.

Briar Prastiti, from Wellington, whose work was selected to be recorded said,

I am hugely honoured and grateful to have been selected for the 2024 SOUNZ Composer Sessions. I have dreamed of entering the realm of orchestral writing since a young age, and to have my piece Pegasus realised by one of the best orchestras in the country is a true and rare gift to experience. I have no doubt that this opportunity will be an invaluable step toward the future of writing more exciting pieces for orchestra!

The 2024 recordings will take place in October at the Michael Fowler Centre in Wellington, including a concert for invited guests to promote the works to a range of orchestras and broadcasters.

The NZ Composer Sessions offers an opportunity to have orchestral compositions workshopped and performed by a professional orchestra, to be recorded in a professional setting and promoted to presenters. So far 182 works by 86 New Zealand composers have been recorded.

Louise Webster, from Auckland, will also attend the sessions:

Having my oboe concerto selected for performance in the 2024 Composer series is an amazing opportunity - I have the greatest admiration for the NZSO players and for their commitment to contemporary Aotearoa music. A composer’s dream!

You can browse composers and listen to past recordings on SOUNZ’s and RNZ Concert’s websites:

/info-resources/for-composers/awards-opportunities/nz-composer-sessions
/concert/programmes/sounz-recordings